In contrast to Mi ma’amakim, a darker, almost hopeless mood pervades Ḥayyim Naḥmun Bialik’s poem Zariti Loru’aḥ anḥati, which was set as an art song by Secunda. (Other composers have made independent settings of the same poem.)
Poem: Ḥayyim Naḥmun Bialik
Sung in Hebrew
I scattered my sighs upon the wind,
And drenched the arid sand with my tears.
O wind! If you find my brother
Tell him I am like a charred and burnt brand.
Tell him the fountain of light once streamed within me
And has now been drained drop by drop.
In my heart a flame blazed
But was extinguished spark by spark.
And now my spring is like a wound,
Just bleeding and dripping at times;
And my heart still secretly smolders,
Rolling and wandering through ashes and blood.
Poem: Ḥayyim Naḥmun Bialik
zariti laruaḥ anḥati
vayyirve haḥol dim'at eini;
haruaḥ! im timtza et aḥi
emor lo—ud ashen hinneni.
emor lo: bi nava m'kor ora—
vayyivash n'tafim n'tafim;
bilvavi shalhevet yakada—
vatid'akh r'shafim r'shafim.
v'ata ma'yani k'mo fetza:
rak shotet umtaftef lif'amim;
ulvavi od ye'eshan bammistar
m'golal ba'efer uvdamim—
Performers: John Musto, Piano; David Ossenfort, Tenor
Translation: Eliyahu Mishulovin
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